The La Cañada Flintridge City Council convened for a regular meeting on Tuesday and had a special guest to discuss local and national issues, most notably the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) joined the council to elucidate the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, a new relief package passed by the House of Representatives last Friday but is currently stagnant in the Senate.
The $3 trillion HEROES Act would provide Americans with a second stimulus check as well as provide financial relief to businesses, and state and local governments affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have to think members of both parties recognize the difficulty their constituents are facing right now,” Schiff told councilmembers. “That would be really a disservice to our common constituents if we were to let cities go bankrupt or have to lay off their teachers or first responders. We have funding for the school districts also to help with those issues.”
The package would provide hazard pay for personnel on the front lines during the pandemic, such as hospital workers, bus drivers and grocery store employees. Schiff also noted that it would support homeowners, homeless and food benefits.
Continue reading “HEROES Act Could Benefit LCF, City Council is Told By Schiff”
City Hears of ‘Big Dig’ Resuming Amid Pandemic Concerns
Trucks are expected to begin hauling dirt and debris from the Devil’s Gate Dam once again Tuesday, with the controversial “Big Dig” project entering its second year of sediment removal, La Cañada Flintridge City Council members were informed this week.
La Cañada Flintridge 4 Healthy Air co-founder Elizabeth Krider gave the update and applauded councilmembers for their attentiveness to residents’ concerns about how diesel exhaust and dust from the trucks would affect air quality, though she cautioned that work is still needed to be done to ensure standards are enforced and followed.
The project, which aims to remove 1.7 million cubic yards of dirt from behind the dam at Hahamongna Watershed Park in phases across four years to increase flood protection and restore the habitat, sparked concerns from local residents after the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved it in November 2017.
Continue reading “City Hears of ‘Big Dig’ Resuming Amid Pandemic Concerns”
La Cañada Council Picks Davitt as Mayor; Inducts Eich, Gunter
Amid a notable lack of fanfare due to social distancing, Michael Davitt was chosen unanimously as mayor of La Cañada Flintridge at a virtual City Council meeting on Tuesday, which also featured the installation of new members Keith Eich, Rick Gunter and incumbent Terry Walker.
The meeting, which typically would have celebrated the council re-organization after an election, with special recognition to new members and those leaving office — which this term includes Gregory Brown and Leonard Pieroni — was held quickly and from the privacy of separate locations.
Continue reading “La Cañada Council Picks Davitt as Mayor; Inducts Eich, Gunter”
City Talks Coronavirus Measures, Ratifies LCF Emergency
Among topics of discussion, eight local confirmed cases of COVID-19 were discussed by the La Cañada Flintridge City Council during a special meeting Tuesday night.
“If you look at the per capita rate, we’re way up there,” said Councilman Gregory Brown. “If you look at all the cities in L.A. County, we’re in the top 10% of per capita basis.”
The city’s eight confirmed cases were according to Los Angeles County Public Health, as of Wednesday. Earlier statistics had lumped LCF data together with Montrose and La Crescenta, but that is no longer the case, Brown noted.
Meanwhile, Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station Captain Todd Deeds told the council that everyone in the city has been “extremely” cooperative in trying to comply with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “Shelter in Place” order announced last month, giving directives on social distancing to stop the spread of coronavirus. A deputy at the local farmers’ market on Saturday spoke to some attendees about social distancing and they cooperated, Deeds said.
Continue reading “City Talks Coronavirus Measures, Ratifies LCF Emergency”
Walker, Eich, Gunter Officially Win Council Seats; School Parcel Tax Victorious
With the results now officially certified, it is confirmed the La Cañada Flintridge City Council will have some new and familiar faces.
Councilwoman Terry Walker, city Public Works and Traffic Commissioner Keith Eich and former Planning Commissioner Rick Gunter were certified on March 27 by Los Angeles County as the victors in an election for three open council seats.
The new members will take the dais at a City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 7, said LCF City Manager Mark Alexander.
“The meeting will subsequently include the virtual swearing-in of Mr. Eich and Mr. Gunter and they will immediately assume office,” Alexander said in an email. “We will then have the selection of the new mayor and mayor pro tem.”
A more ceremonial swearing-in with friends and family, as well as recognition of retiring council members Leonard Pieroni and Gregory Brown, is likely to occur at a later date, Alexander said.
Meanwhile, the La Cañada Unified School District’s Measure LC passed with more than 70% of the ballots cast by registered voters in the LCUSD area in support. The parcel tax renewal needed two-thirds of voter support, or at least 66.7%, to pass.
Continue reading “Walker, Eich, Gunter Officially Win Council Seats; School Parcel Tax Victorious”
City Council Seeks to Regulate, Not Ban, Vacation Rentals
The La Cañada Flintridge City Council decided Tuesday night not to ban short-term rental units and instead try to regulate them, starting a subcommittee to investigate the issue further and bring its findings to the municipal Planning Commission and the council.
Short-term rental advocates who stated their case appeared to have swayed the council. Continue reading “City Council Seeks to Regulate, Not Ban, Vacation Rentals”
City Council Candidates Address Issues at Forum
Moderator Peter Bachmann (left) and City Council candidates Rick Gunter, Terry Walker and Keith Eich participate in a recent forum at Flintridge Prep.
Three candidates for La Cañada Flintridge City Council tackled topics including residential burglaries, trash trucks and permits at a candidate forum last week. Continue reading “City Council Candidates Address Issues at Forum”
City OKs Purchase of Cameras That Read License Plates
The La Cañada Flintridge City Council voted to approve funding for 37 Flock Safety cameras — including 10 on Foothill Boulevard — with the source of the money to be identified during the midyear budget process next month. The cameras, which can read vehicles’ license plates, have been viewed recently as a possible public safety enhancement amid a spate of local residential burglaries. Continue reading “City OKs Purchase of Cameras That Read License Plates”
City Council Due to Consider Banning Short-Term Rentals
The La Cañada Flintridge City Council is slated to consider in the coming month a recommendation to locally ban short-term rentals and the advertising of such rentals. Continue reading “City Council Due to Consider Banning Short-Term Rentals”
Pieroni to Sit Out City Council Candidate Forum
A La Cañada Flintridge City Council candidate forum scheduled for later this month won’t include incumbent Leonard Pieroni, who continues to recover after experiencing a health issue. Continue reading “Pieroni to Sit Out City Council Candidate Forum”